Ground connection



p 1930- I I E. s. K/ANDERSON Filed Apri l 14. 1927 Patented Sept. 16, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ERNST G. K. ANQERSON, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO APPLETON ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS i V GROUND ooNNnc'rIoN Application filed April 14,

The present inventionhas for its object to produce a simple and novel device for securing good electrically conductive connection between a conductor and a protective conduit therefor, on the one hand, and a metal pipe or the like of any diameter, within limits, on the other han The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter he pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, whereini Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of my improved devices connected to an end of a conduit; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, there being also shown a pipe to which the device is attached; and Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, the pipe being omitted. I I

Referring to the drawing,'1 represents a flexible metal strap one end of which may be permanently fixed to a bracket 2 and its other end adjustably connected to a second bracket 3. The brackets are conveniently made in the form of shallow channels having their flanges or sidesdirected toward 3 each other. That end of the strap that is connected with the bracket" 3' passes outwardly from the inner or underside of the bracket through a transverse slot 4; in the web portion of the bracket. The extreme free end of the strap is slitted longitudinally to provide one or more ears to be bent laterally out of the plane of the strap andthus form ahead or an enlargement to prevent the accidental withdrawal of the end of the strap from the bracket. In the arrangement shown, there are two longitudinal slits, producing a central ear 5 that is bent to lie at an angle to the plane of the marginal portions of the strap beside the same.

The strap has a number of holes 6 distributed along the length of the same, these holes being just large enough to permit the passage of a screw bolt 7. The screw bolt passes through a hole in the web of the bracket 3,

1927. Serial No. 183,825.

through one of the holes inthe strap, and into or through the web of the bracket 2.

A suitable terminalS is attached in the trough or channel of the bracket 2, conven iently by a screw 9 that passes through a portion of the terminal, through the strap and into or through the web of the bracket. Thus the terminal, to'which a conductor to be grounded is adapted to be attached, is mechanically fastened to the bracket and to the strap and is alsoplaced in good electrically conductive relation to these elements. Between the-"ends of the brackets remote from the strap endof the device is a socket 10 that is conveniently screw-threaded internally to receive the screw-threaded end of a protective conduit A for a conductor. The flanges of the brackets 2 and 3 are cut away opposite the socket, so that'the latter may swing through a considerable angle. The socket 10 has at its inner end ears 11 and 12 engaging the webs of the brackets 2 and '3 respectively. A rivet 13, passing through the ear 11 and the web portion of the bracket 2 permanently fastens the socket to this bracket, but permits relative angular move ments about the long axis of the rivet. In order that the socket shall not be held too tightly or too loosely, I place between the head of the rivet and the outer side of the bracket 2 a spring washer 14. The ear 12 is provided with a hole 15 into which projects a pin or stud 16 fixed to the bracket 3.

The device may be supplied to the consumer, either with the screw 7 in place, or with this screw removed. In order to attach the device to a pipe, if the screw 7 is in place, this screw is removed, so that the strap may be straightened out, the bracket 3 serving simply as an extension of the free end of the latter, since the pin 16 may be lifted freely out of the hole or bearing 15. The strap is preferably calibrated, the holes being spaced apart at such distances that each will represent a standard/ pipe diameter; the diameter of the pipe to which each hole corresponds being preferably marked on the strap beside the hole. When the device is to be applied to a pipe, such as in dicated at B in Fig. 2', the strap is adjusted with respect to the bracket 3 so as to bring the proper hole into registration with the bolt hole in the bracket. The strap is then bent around the pipe and the screw bolt inserted; the pin 16 being set into the bearing or hole 15 in the socket. When the screw is tightened the strap is clamped around the pipe and the adjacent ends of the bracket are forced into intimate contact with the pipe. Therefore the brackets may be said to have supports at both ends, one support being the pipe and the other being the socket. Since the screw bolt is located between these supports .it tends to draw the socket ends of the bracket together, thus insuring that the pin 16 will be held in the hole or bearing in the socket and thus serve as a trunnion upon which the socket may swing.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a simple and rugged device consisting of but few parts by which aconduit may be quickly and easily anchored to a pipe of any size, within wide limits, lying at any angle thereto; the conduit and a conductor housed therein being effectively grounded to the pipe.

lVhile I have illustrated and described with V particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact. structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a flexible strap having stiff end pieces, a socket pivoted to one of the end pieces near one end of the latter and adapted to engage a conduit or other element, said socket having a bearing and the other end piece having a trunnion adapted to enter the bearing in registration with the pivotal'axis of the socket when that end piece and the socket are placed together, and a fastening means detachable with respect to at least one end piece arranged between said end pieces inwardly from the socket to draw the end pieces together.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a flexible strap, a stiif end piece secured to one end of the strap,-a second stiff end piece having a transverse slot through the same, the free end of the strap extending through the slot, said end pieces having registering bolt holes, said strap having a plurality of bolt holes distributed lengthwise thereof, and there being a bolt adapted to enter the bolt holes in said end pieces and pass through any one of the holes in the strap to draw the strap around a pipe or other object, and means secured to the free end of one end piece. and detachably connected to the free end of the other end piece to attach said device to a conduit or other element.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a flexible strap, astitf end piece attached, to one end of the strap, a second stifi' end piece having a transverse slot near one end, the strap extending freely through said slot and having its extreme end deformed to prevent withdrawal through said slot, said strap having a plurality of holes distributed lengthwise thereof, said second end piece having between the slot and the adjacent end a 7 bolt hole adapted to be brought into registration with any one of the holes in the strap, means ad apted to pass through the-bolt hole in the second end piece to secure it to the other end piece and a socket for a conduit or the like adj ustably secured between the free ends of said end pieces.

4:- A device of the character described comprising a flexible strap member having stiff end pieces, a socket fastened to the free end of one of said end pieces and adapted to engage a conduit or other element, said socket and the free end of the second end piece having thereon elements adapted to engage with each other when the device is assembled and prevent relative movements of the second end piece and the socket in the plane of said second end piece, and means detachably connecting said end pieces inwardly from said socket to draw said end pieces together and tighten the strap.

5. A device of the character described comprising a flexible strap and two troughshaped stiff end pieces connected tosaid strap, means for drawing the inner ends of the end pieces together with the open sides of the troughs facing each other, a socket between the outer ends of the end pieces, and means connecting the socket to the end pieces to permit the socket to swing upon the same.

6. A device of'the character described comprising a flexible strap and two troughshaped stiff end pieces connected to the strap, means for drawing the inner ends of the end pieces together with the open sides of the troughs facing each other, a terminal secured within the trough ofone of the end pieces, a socket between the outer ends of said end pieces, and pivotal connections between the socket and the end pieces.

7 A device of the character described comprising a flexible strap, a trough-like stiff end piece secured to one end of the strap, a terminal lying in the trough of the aforesaid end piece, a socket pivotally connected to the outer end of the aforesaid end piece and lying on the same side as the terminal, a second stiff end piece onthe other end of the strap, said second end piece and said socket having thereon elements adapted to form a pivotal connection when the second end piece is laid on the socket, and means for drawing said end pieces together.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

ERNST G. K. ANDERSON. 

